[video]

[happytobleed]

[ It's a different type of disorientation from the last time he'd left and come back. The last time, he'd been hurt, his grace half-torn from his body.

He's no stronger this time, even if it's on borrowed grace, but he's more composed and it's easy enough to reach into his pocket for the device that hadn't been there a moment earlier. ]

Can anyone tell me how long I've been gone? The last time I remember being here was shortly after we left the town. Maybe a few weeks.

[ It's clear that he's walking through a dim hall as he speaks, heading towards his living space. ]


[ Private to Dean ]

Dean, are you here?

Comments

[venatical]

[ Dean blinks again, surprised at the depth of emotion there and still not quite willing to believe it. ]

Several years, huh? [ He glances away, trying to piece all of this together. When's the last time he had a friend for several years that's still alive? ]

Well, I guess we'll see about that. [ He means it to sound tough, but his voice is rough with emotion. ]

[happytobleed]

[ Castiel nods quickly. ]

I'm going to figure out why you can't remember any of this.

[ And if he can't make Dean remember, he'll find a way to show him, anyway, because this is the only Dean he has. ]

[venatical]

[ Dean nods, though he's not convinced, or maybe he should be convinced -- he really can't make up his mind. If he's going along with the idea, though... ]

We... We both just got back, right? From wherever we go now.

[ He leaves it there, but he implies the rest: they messed with his head. ]

[happytobleed]

I think that I'm from further into the future than you are.

[ Because he has to be. His jaw tightens. ]

But it sounds like it, yes. Do you remember this place?

[venatical]

[ Oh great. A guy Dean can't remember who's from his freaking future, too. He hates this timelines shit, but even more when maybe Cas is from some parallel one?

Dean keeps trying to throw something at this that makes more sense than the idea that he could have forgotten an entire person, the person who saved him from Hell, some friend he's had for years. How could he forget that? ]

Yeah, yeah, I remember this place. Think I'm missing a few days or weeks, but first there was the town, and then we trekked over here in those tunnels.

How far in the future are you? Supposedly. [ He tacks that on at the end because he doesn't want to let himself believe in Cas and his story yet; he can't. That can't be true. ]

[happytobleed]

[ He can't help the hurt in his voice. ]

And you don't remember me? Dean, I've been here the whole time.

[ But of course this isn't the first time Dean's forgotten things here. It's just never been Castiel. ]

I don't... know how far in the future I am from you, though.